The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, has held a crunch meeting with management from across the country in response to the recent violence that has characterised inter-schools sports competitions.
The meeting was held on Monday, February 23.
In attendance was the Central Regional Director of Education, Dr Mrs Juliette Dufie Otami, the Agona West Municipal Director of Education, Bismark Mfaafo Offei, Cape Coast Metro Director of Education, Thomas Kwofie, Abura Asebu Kwamankesse District Director of Education Madam Mary Cudjoe, Acting Director of Education for Awutu Senya District Frank Etrue Hayford, the Heads of Aggrey Memorial SHS, Adisadel College, Swedru School of Business, Obrachire SHTS and Kwanyako SHTS, the Regional P.E./Sports Coordinator, Regional PRO, Zonal Sports Executive and Coordinators, as well as some of the affected students and their parents. The Technical Advisor to the Minister for Education, Prof George K.T. Oduro, was also in attendance.
The Regional Director and her team provided detailed eyewitness accounts of the incidents, outlined what transpired, discussed the causes, immediate steps taken, and proposed measures to strengthen safety and security during future inter-school sporting events.
Prof. Kofi Davis unequivocally condemned the acts of violence and expressed strong dissatisfaction at the level of aggression displayed by some students.
He emphasised that such conducts undermine the core values of discipline, sportsmanship and mutual respect that school competitions are intended to promote.
He further underscored the importance of school games as platforms for discovering and nurturing talent, while fostering unity among schools.
He noted that football and the traditional games generally have become increasingly lucrative, and students with passion and talent must be properly guided and supported to build successful careers through sports.
The GES Director-General also endorsed the Central Regional Director’s decision to suspend all sporting activities pending thorough investigations into the reported incidents.
Management expressed relief, based on firsthand confirmation, that no death was recorded, contrary to false reports circulated in sections of the media.
The student who was erroneously reported to have died was present at the meeting.
He, among other victims, who were hospitalised have been discharged and are currently receiving and responding to medical care and attention.